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Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor just 34 yards shy of joining elite company
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Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor has been one of college football’s premier ball carriers each of the last two seasons. He’s had an unprecedented amount of success through his sophomore season.
This season, Taylor led college football with 1,989 rushing yards and bringing his career total to 3,966 yards. With the Pinstripe Bowl left on the schedule, the Badgers running back is just 34 yards short of joining elite company.
If Taylor is able to rush for more than 34 yards in the Pinstripe Bowl against Miami, it will put him over 4,000 yards for his career through just two seasons. Only four other college running backs have eclipsed that mark so quickly. And they’re some pretty big-time names.
Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin), LaDanian Tomlinson (TCU), Ricky Williams (Texas) and Troy Davis (Iowa State) were the other four running backs to hit the mark.
As a freshman, Taylor busted onto the college football season, posting sensational numbers as the Badgers finished the year 13-1. He led the B1G in rushing with 1,977 yards and scored 13 touchdowns in 14 games.
Taylor has accounted for 28 touchdowns and has averaged 6.85 yards per carry for his career.
If Taylor accounts for 11 yards in the Pinstripe Bowl, he’ll eclipse the 2,000-yard mark. He would be the first B1G running back to hit that plateau since 2014.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB